Slave

Today I stand at a great banquet, in honor of gods know what petty political move by the rulers of this distant land. Sincerely, I don’t care much for what happens around these parts. This is one of the many cities that thrive in the Scavenger Lands, but it is not my destination. I am just passing by. But whether I care for their petty squabbles or not, they have food, and a chance to listen in to other people’s affairs. Sometimes I can gather useful information from these.

I concentrate my essence upon myself, and disguise myself as a wealthy foreigner, with clothes to match my haughty impression, thanks to my Autochthonian friends. With this disguise, and a few additional effects, no one argues my being there: I just belong.

Which is just as well, because a foreigner who just arrived is a very hungry person! I quickly get to eating, while keeping observant of the social interactions between people. Some, maybe out of curiosity, decide to strike up a conversation with me. I chat, nonchalantly, playing my part, when something catches my eye.

I see a couple, man and woman, both of them dressed impeccably. Something about the both of them seems out of place, if only vaguely. I can’t tell what is the matter with the gentleman, which, in and of itself, is a scary thought: Only an Exalt such as I would be able to resist my investigations.

The lady, although still difficult, I can read easily, which also worries me. From the social interactions between the couple and the patrons, they seem to be a well-established couple of the area, not very wealthy, but well-connected. Some people seem to look to them for favors. But from the relationship with each other, and this I can only capture after expending my essence to amplify my understanding, I get something completely different.

She is his slave.

Now, generally, slavery is an accepted occurrence in these parts, at least as far as I can tell. So why go through all this trouble to hide it? And why would she agree to hide it? And who is he? The fact that he seems to be some kind of powerful entity troubles me, for I can’t see what would such a being be doing in this area.